In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Wellspring counselor Becky Hecht to talk about trauma—what it is, how it impacts the brain, and how our understanding of treatment has evolved over the years. Becky shares insights from her advanced training in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (A.R.T.), a newer counseling approach that offers unique benefits for those processing trauma.
Together they explore:
How trauma affects both mind and body
Why treatment approaches have shifted in recent decades
The unique strengths of A.R.T., including its relatively quick time frame and “non-invasive” nature—allowing clients to heal without needing to verbally share their story if they don’t want to
Whether you’re a counselor, someone impacted by trauma, or simply curious about how the brain heals, this conversation offers a hopeful and practical look at trauma recovery.
To learn more about Jonathan Kittel and Becky Hecht, visit their practice website, Wellspring Counseling.
To learn more about Accelerated Resolution Therapy (A.R.T.), visit the website Accelerated Resolution Therapy - Treating Trauma.
In this insightful conversation, two licensed counselors sit down with registered and licensed dietitian Julie Vaughan, MS RDN LD, owner of Greenville Nutrition Therapy, to explore the powerful connection between nutrition and mental health. Together, they unpack what it really means to have a “relationship” with food — and how to know if yours is healthy or unhealthy.
Julie shares her anti–diet-culture perspective, emphasizing that food shouldn't be a source of stress. She offers practical insights on how nutritionists and dietitians collaborate with mental health and medical professionals, outlines the different levels of care available for those experiencing eating disorders, and shares resources to help parents model healthy eating for their children.
Whether you’re navigating your own food relationship, supporting a loved one, or simply curious about the intersection of diet and mental wellness, this episode offers hope, clarity, and a refreshing reminder that food can be something to truly enjoy.
Learn more about Julie at www.greenvillenutritiontherapy.com
Learn more about Jonathan Kittel and Margaret Kay Ko Brooks at www.wellspringgreenville.com
Parenting is both joyful and difficult. Actually, most relationships are like that. There's no shortage of tips and tricks to improve our relationships in the world. Yet, our quest to improve as parents can honestly turn into information-overload.
But what if the foundation was actually quite simple? Remember to see and love your child before correcting behavior. Focus on the process of healthy relationships before stressing outcomes. Sure, those ideas sound good - but HOW do you actually do that?
In today's episode, licensed counseling professionals Margaret Kay Ko Brooks and Jonathan Kittel at Wellspring Counseling (www.wellspringgreenville.com) discuss the power of Reflective Listening.
To read the accompanying blog for this podcast, check out the following link Reflective Listening: The Parenting Skill that Changes Everything - Wellspring Counseling
To read the BIOS for Margaret Kay and Jonathan, click below:
Margaret Kay Ko, LPC - Wellspring Counseling
Jonathan Kittel, LPC/S, LMFT/S - Wellspring Counseling
So many people experience a pressure to be perfect. Whether it's teens, adults, parents or even relationships, so many people get paralyzed by a fear of failure and a perceived need to be perfect. In this conversation, licensed counselors Claire Brown and Jonathan Kittel explore the roots of perfectionism and the toll it can take on us. They discuss how the cycle of perfectionism can feel like being stuck on a hamster wheel, while also identifying ways to break free from this pressure. The counselors identify behaviors that promote our well-being, and help people understand how to move forward to find peace and contentment. To read the accompanying blog for this podcast, check out the following link https://wellspringgreenville.com/overcoming-the-pressure-to-be-perfect/ To read Claire's bio, check out the following link https://wellspringgreenville.com/about/claire-brown/
As parents, we can get frustrated when our children fail to take ownership of their responsibilities and mistakes. “Why won’t they just acknowledge what they’ve done?” is a common question we say...
In this conversation, licensed counselors Adam Cowan and Jonathan Kittel what parents need to know about helping their teen take greater responsibility. We explore and seek to understand (1) why our teens struggle with responsibility, (2) how we can empower them to take ownership of their life, and (3) the benefits we’ll see when our teens become more responsible.
To read the accompanying blog for this podcast, check out the following link https://wellspringgreenville.com/helping-teens-take-ownership-understanding-the-struggle-of-responsibility/
To read Adam's bio, check out the following link https://wellspringgreenville.com/about/adam-cowan/
For parents, nothing is more important than caring to our children. Sometimes though, a young child can experience emotional or behavioral challenges that leave parents stumped and overwhelmed. In today's episode, we speak with a Greenville, SC counseling expert about how young children (ages 10 and under especially) benefit from play therapy. Play therapy is a counseling approach that helps children deal with and recover from challenges such as anxiety, grief, trauma, family dynamic problems, behavioral challenges, and more. Join Jonathan Kittel and Margaret Kay Ko, licensed counselors and mental health experts at Wellspring Counseling (www.wellspringgreenville.com), as they discuss these matters. In this episode, we address the specific approach of "Child-Centered Play Therapy," the role of Play in counseling, the counselor's role in this process, the common challenges that improve due to play therapy, and describe the role of parents in the therapy process. Lastly, we discuss it makes sense for parents to seek professional support. To read the accompanying blog for this podcast, check out the following link Understanding Play Therapy: A Path to Healing for Children - Wellspring Counseling (wellspringgreenville.com) To read Margaret Kay's bio, check out the following link Margaret Kay Ko, LPC - Wellspring Counseling (wellspringgreenville.com)
Teenage girls are known to experience high levels of anxiety. This understanding is commonplace in today's world, but not all anxiety is necessarily a problem. Parents need to know the difference between good and bad anxiety in the life of a teenage daughter. So, how does anxiety present itself in the lives of teenage girls? What are the developmental and cultural factors that drive this? Most importantly, what are the signs of excessive anxiety that parents need to recognize? And how do we support our teenage daughters who experience this anxiety? Join Jonathan Kittel and Davie Brenegar, licensed counselors and mental health experts at Wellspring Counseling (www.wellspringgreenville.com) in Greenville, SC, as they discuss these matters, as well as when it makes sense for parents to seek professional support. To read the accompanying blog for this podcast, check out the following link Navigating Anxiety in Teenage Girls: Insights from a Counseling Perspective - Wellspring Counseling (wellspringgreenville.com) To read Davie Brenegar's BIO, click here Davie Brenegar, LPC/A - Wellspring Counseling (wellspringgreenville.com)
Emerging Adults (ages 17-25 years) face many challenges as they seek to become mature, independent adults. What do Parents need to know about the common blocks facing their children during this important phase of life? How can Parents better empower their children who are emerging as adults? Join Jonathan Kittel and Buddy Blount, licensed counselors and mental health experts at Wellspring Counseling (www.wellspringgreenville.com) in Greenville, SC, as they discuss these matters. Read Buddy's original article "Parenting An Emerging Adult" - https://wellspringgreenville.com/parenting-an-emerging-adult/. To read Buddy's BIO, check out the link https://wellspringgreenville.com/about/buddy-blount-lpc-lac/. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/iros-young/amazing-day License code: 9GJA4TXQ2C1RHZL3
